Michael Luongo is a frequent public speaker, including talks for TEDx, the Smithsonian, the Harvard Club, the New York Public Library and many other institutions, corporations and universities.

He is a PhD student in Purdue University’s Hospitality & Tourism program where his research centers on how destinations that have experienced war and conflict can rebuild their tourism sectors, with a focus on Ukraine, Iraq and Rwanda. He is also an online writing instructor teaching opinion, memoir and personal essay for the University of California, Los Angeles.

He is an award winning journalist who has been to more than 100 countries and all seven continents and has written, edited or co-edited 16 books, primarily on travel, including Frommers Buenos Aires, Gay Travels in the Muslim World and an academic textbook, Gay Tourism. His reporting on tourism rebuilding and conflict zones has been in The New York Times, Bloomberg News, Conde Nast Traveler, Gay City News, Travel + Leisure and other publications.

His website is:  www.michaelluongo.com